Wednesday, March 30, 2011
14 year old rape victim killed with lashes
Sentenced to 101 lashes, 14-year-old Hena only survived 70. She was a victim of rape, but viewed as one who committed adultery. Her story here.
Interesting Find
While in London, our tour guide showed us three memorials: one for the men, one for the women, and one for the animals of World War II, commemorating their assistance.
The memorial for men was built first, then the memorial for animals, and finally the memorial for women. I found the latter beautiful, but cocked my eyebrow with a dash of contempt at the fact that only women's clothes were represented, not even their bodies.
The memorial for men was built first, then the memorial for animals, and finally the memorial for women. I found the latter beautiful, but cocked my eyebrow with a dash of contempt at the fact that only women's clothes were represented, not even their bodies.
Men's Rights Backlash
Scott Adams, author and creator of Dilbert, blogged a few weeks ago about Men's Rights (after being told it was a topic of interest to his readers). He wrote a recent article about the fact that, taken out of context, his message was unintentionally hurtful. This article (along with the 'offending' article) is posted here. Thank you to reader M.a.U. for the link.
While I don't fully agree with everything Adams' wrote in his first article, I am pleased there was an addendum. I do not think it was necessary to label the men offended, "a bunch of pussies". Doing so shoots down men who expressed their emotions and critiques and, inadvertently or not, degrades women by using such a term.
The object of finality I will mention is the topic Adams and I agree most on is: humans are never satisfied, no matter what our gender. And we most likely never will be. But, I believe gender-linked injustices and grievances (for a man or woman) hold more weight (and should be addressed) than what Adams labels "whining".
While I don't fully agree with everything Adams' wrote in his first article, I am pleased there was an addendum. I do not think it was necessary to label the men offended, "a bunch of pussies". Doing so shoots down men who expressed their emotions and critiques and, inadvertently or not, degrades women by using such a term.
The object of finality I will mention is the topic Adams and I agree most on is: humans are never satisfied, no matter what our gender. And we most likely never will be. But, I believe gender-linked injustices and grievances (for a man or woman) hold more weight (and should be addressed) than what Adams labels "whining".
Femi-fun photos from far away.
Eurotrip finds. I apologize I was unable to rotate them. Click to enlarge.
 | |||||
| Advertisement for a job search website. Normally women are accused of 'faking' orgasms. |
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| Hmm. The 'careless' talkers are women. But, the evils in power are men. |
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| French advertisement asking 'You are woman?' A man shaves her leg with a large knife razor a la Sweeny Todd while her attention is directed elsewhere. Beside this, the woman on another ad nearly bares her vagina. |
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| Awesome ad in The Guardian! |
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| Only gentlemen must remove their hats? Are they necessarily more likely to be wearing one? |
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| I do realize the crotch needs to be protected in battle, I just found this amusing. |
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| Eye-opening fashion comparison ad in the underground. Notice the skirt hike and lowered collar for more cleavage! |
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| His chest: "The man" in French. The (presumably female) arms pulling him: Vice and Tenderness? (Not sure about the translation of the latter.) |
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| Apparently a film? I researched it and I believe this is a still from the movie 'Made in Dagenham.' |
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| Advertisement for 'Eternal Women'. Appeared to be for a gallery opening? |
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| A card (and later found to be on a t-shirt, too) representing Sigmund Freud. |
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| The card reads: "You'll Eat Better" with a man biting a woman's backside. The slogan: "Be Stupid" from Diesel (the makers of jeans). |
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Largest job discrimination lawsuit in history.
This could escalate to include 1.6 million women. But they're all wrong, right?
Spokeswomen argue male employees make more money and are promoted faster.
One female worker was told to "blow the cobwebs off [her] make-up and doll up." (Previous quotation from KMOV TV coverage of news story.)
Full article here.
Spokeswomen argue male employees make more money and are promoted faster.
One female worker was told to "blow the cobwebs off [her] make-up and doll up." (Previous quotation from KMOV TV coverage of news story.)
Full article here.
Monday, March 28, 2011
It only comes once a year.
http://www.begoodtowomen.com/
What exactly does 'being good' to women imply? Opening doors? Allowing her to choose the sex position? Letting her take the day off from dishes?
I sympathize with the reaction of my instructor: "Maybe well-intended, but makes me want to vomit."
And don't forget! For the empirically inclined, there's a ten question poll about whether or not you're good to women! If you're not, your results will say something like 'You don't take this issue seriously at all! Apologize to the next woman you see!' Because that'll make a difference....
What exactly does 'being good' to women imply? Opening doors? Allowing her to choose the sex position? Letting her take the day off from dishes?
I sympathize with the reaction of my instructor: "Maybe well-intended, but makes me want to vomit."
And don't forget! For the empirically inclined, there's a ten question poll about whether or not you're good to women! If you're not, your results will say something like 'You don't take this issue seriously at all! Apologize to the next woman you see!' Because that'll make a difference....
Sunday, March 27, 2011
All's fair in cinema...except for love.
"The film received a PG-13 rating. To avoid an R rating, a love scene was cut. Browning said, 'I had a very tame and mild love scene with Jon Hamm... I think it's great for this young girl to actually take control of her own sexuality.' She added, '[The MPAA] got [the director] to edit the scene and make it look less like she's into it. [The director] said he edited it down to the point where it looked like he was taking advantage of her. That's the only way he could get a PG-13 [rating]." via star Emily Browning from movie, Sucker Punch.
Wikipedia page here.
Wikipedia page here.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, Friday...was yesterday.
If you haven't heard about the sensationalized singer and music video, click below for Rebecca Black's "Friday." It's being called the worst music video in history.
Hundreds of parodies have been made of the video, and regular news and radio banter have been occupied with the video and its star. I'll admit I considered myself a victim of 'the Black plague' (a moniker for those who found the video [to put it lightly] difficult to watch and listen to). This changed when I became aware that the song itself wasn't even written by Black. And she's not the world's most awful singer. But people did not stop berating the video even after finding this out. YouTube commenters told her she should kill herself. One radio DJ harped for five minutes about how the girls in the video were ugly and had 'hideous moles on their faces.' Does that have anything to do with the quality of the video? Hardly. Remember, the star of the video is 13 and the peers around her are her real-life friends. They hardly deserve our criticism. If Black's parents had the $2k to blow on the making of the video and the auto-tuning of the track, so be it.
We can whine all we want, but bringing the girls' appearances into the mix doesn't solve or bolster any argument. Such petty exchanges have nothing to do with the 'worth' of the song, but everything to do with feminism. If the singer had been a boy and he had been more than made fun of (one need only to look so far as any Justin Beiber video), I'd be hopping up on my soap box then, too. It's interesting, though, that the death threats, suicide promptings, etc. seem to follow female music stars more.
Hundreds of parodies have been made of the video, and regular news and radio banter have been occupied with the video and its star. I'll admit I considered myself a victim of 'the Black plague' (a moniker for those who found the video [to put it lightly] difficult to watch and listen to). This changed when I became aware that the song itself wasn't even written by Black. And she's not the world's most awful singer. But people did not stop berating the video even after finding this out. YouTube commenters told her she should kill herself. One radio DJ harped for five minutes about how the girls in the video were ugly and had 'hideous moles on their faces.' Does that have anything to do with the quality of the video? Hardly. Remember, the star of the video is 13 and the peers around her are her real-life friends. They hardly deserve our criticism. If Black's parents had the $2k to blow on the making of the video and the auto-tuning of the track, so be it.
We can whine all we want, but bringing the girls' appearances into the mix doesn't solve or bolster any argument. Such petty exchanges have nothing to do with the 'worth' of the song, but everything to do with feminism. If the singer had been a boy and he had been more than made fun of (one need only to look so far as any Justin Beiber video), I'd be hopping up on my soap box then, too. It's interesting, though, that the death threats, suicide promptings, etc. seem to follow female music stars more.
Death of Geraldine Ferraro
Ferraro died today at the age of 75 after battling blood cancer for 12 years. "She was the first female Vice Presidential candidate", was a teacher, and headed the Queens division of "the new Special Victims Bureau [in New York] that dealt with sex crimes, child abuse, and domestic violence". During her tenure in Congress, she "focus[ed] on legislation to bring equity for women in the areas of wages, pensions, and retirement plans" and "served as a United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights from 1993 until 1996". I commend her legacy, and her fight for women everywhere. I hope this legacy will be picked up by other strong women and men toward equality in politics and all factions of non-governmental living.
Quoted material from Wikipedia.
Quoted material from Wikipedia.
Feminist Questionnaire Followup
Remember all the posts with responses from my questionnaire at the beginning of this semester? I've received an article from reader, jk, about blogging that made a difference:
Manhattan resident Kathrine Gutierrez Hind, a blogger, was able to stop two Russian women from getting involved in sex trafficking because of what she read on their blog (and by taking a major risk). Read the entire Daily Beast article here.
I urge you to browse more consciously now; you never know what you might find or whom you may help.
Manhattan resident Kathrine Gutierrez Hind, a blogger, was able to stop two Russian women from getting involved in sex trafficking because of what she read on their blog (and by taking a major risk). Read the entire Daily Beast article here.
I urge you to browse more consciously now; you never know what you might find or whom you may help.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
My voting senses are tingling!
Meet Fred Karger, a pro-choice, pro gay marriage homosexual presidential candidate who also self-identifies as a feminist.
Gender-friendly words
End the sexist language now.
"The Manual for the Non-sexist Use of Language is being distributed to government offices across Mexico.
It seeks to reduce comments that enforce gender stereotypes, as well as the default use of the masculine form in the Spanish language.
The manual was written by a body that tackles violence against women.
In its introduction, the manual describes itself as 'a tool to familiarize federal public workers with the use of non-sexist strategies in the Spanish language'.
It discourages the use of phrases such as: 'If you want to work, why did you have children,' and: 'You are prettier when you keep quiet'.
It also advises against referring to women as possessions, as in phrases such as 'Pedro's woman'."
Full BBC article here.
"The Manual for the Non-sexist Use of Language is being distributed to government offices across Mexico.
It seeks to reduce comments that enforce gender stereotypes, as well as the default use of the masculine form in the Spanish language.
The manual was written by a body that tackles violence against women.
In its introduction, the manual describes itself as 'a tool to familiarize federal public workers with the use of non-sexist strategies in the Spanish language'.
It discourages the use of phrases such as: 'If you want to work, why did you have children,' and: 'You are prettier when you keep quiet'.
It also advises against referring to women as possessions, as in phrases such as 'Pedro's woman'."
Full BBC article here.
Female protesters in Egypt tortured, subjected to ‘virginity test’: Amnesty
"The international human rights group Amnesty International claimed Wednesday that a number of female protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square were rounded up by the Egyptian military and tortured recently.
Some women even said they were subjected to a 'virginity test' while soldiers looked on and took pictures.
Amnesty said at least 18 different women were subjected to this treatment, first at a military prison, then inside the Cairo Museum.
The women claimed they were beaten and tortured with electric shocks, and one woman who allegedly 'failed' her virginity test was reportedly singled out for the worst abuse.
'20-year-old Salwa Hosseini told Amnesty International that after she was arrested and taken to a military prison in Heikstep, she was made, with the other women, to take off all her clothes to be searched by a female prison guard, in a room with two open doors and a window,' the group explained. 'During the strip search, Salwa Hosseini said male soldiers were looking into the room and taking pictures of the naked women.'
All of them were taken on March 9, as the military cleared Tahrir Square of demonstrators.
'Women and girls must be able to express their views on the future of Egypt and protest against the government without being detained, tortured, or subjected to profoundly degrading and discriminatory treatment,' Amnesty said in an advisory. 'The army officers tried to further humiliate the women by allowing men to watch and photograph what was happening, with the implicit threat that the women could be at further risk of harm if the photographs were made public.'
The group also demanded that the women not face trial before a military court due to the system's history of hasty verdicts and allegations of corruption.
Led by journalist Rasha Azeb with the al-Fagr newspaper, the women have filed a lawsuit against Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, demanding that the use of military courts end.
Amnesty added that testimony gathered by the El Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence corroborated Azeb's claims of torture, beatings and sexual abuse.
A spokesperson for Amnesty International was unavailable for comment. Messages left with Egypt's embassy in Washington, D.C. were not returned."
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Men Freeing Men
Edited by Francis Baumli, Ph.D.
ISBN : 0-9615480-0-2 (in case you want to borrow it from the library or buy it)
Men Freeing Men is about emotion, rawness, hurt, anger, and repression. It relays actual accounts of persons who identify as male or a man. It discusses the perversion of what it 'means' to be a man and how it is instilled in young boys. And I'm not just talking gendered color here. I mean attitude, demeanor, bottled feelings, and action (or inaction) toward women (lovers, mothers, sisters).
"My emotions are the most authentic expression of who I am" (19).
Men Freeing Men is poetry, self-reflection, mistaken identity and self-actualization. It's consciousness, rebirth, reconciliation and perseverance. It's ranting and raving just like us girls.
"Playing the part of the 'real man,' I expended considerable energy in shielding myself from being like a woman" (19).
Within its pages, men write about what feels good, what feels bad, what they claim, reclaim, and rebuke. To succeed, to write, to have been included means men have had to take some pretty big steps in dady's wonky shoes. They've had to accept and reject pieces of themselves, turn the tables, WANT to change and WANT to learn.
"Am I still a man?" (20).
Men Freeing Men is self-definition and understanding 'manhood' and changing it if they damn well please. It is paramount to the feminist cause, attempting to ameliorate the gendered inequality of sexual- and self-expression. I'm ecstatic to have discovered this insanely informative compilation from a point of view I desperately needed to consider (and now fully appreciate and respect).
"I doubt that I'll ever totally get rid of my double standards or occasional jealousies. I do think I can learn to keep such feelings from crippling my relationships, and instead use them as an index to what I'm feeling" (43).
This book is about men's double standard, their struggles, the lifelong fight with ones penis size, prostitution as male humiliation, relationships, isolation. It's witty, it's serious, it's downright empowering, yes, even for a reader of the female persuasion.
"I've come to the conclusion that I have a right to my feelings. I didn't consider learning about my feelings 'liberation.' I see it as a reconciliation with my humanity, which my forbears must have bartered long ago for 'manhood'" (21).
ISBN : 0-9615480-0-2 (in case you want to borrow it from the library or buy it)
Men Freeing Men is about emotion, rawness, hurt, anger, and repression. It relays actual accounts of persons who identify as male or a man. It discusses the perversion of what it 'means' to be a man and how it is instilled in young boys. And I'm not just talking gendered color here. I mean attitude, demeanor, bottled feelings, and action (or inaction) toward women (lovers, mothers, sisters).
"My emotions are the most authentic expression of who I am" (19).
Men Freeing Men is poetry, self-reflection, mistaken identity and self-actualization. It's consciousness, rebirth, reconciliation and perseverance. It's ranting and raving just like us girls.
"Playing the part of the 'real man,' I expended considerable energy in shielding myself from being like a woman" (19).
Within its pages, men write about what feels good, what feels bad, what they claim, reclaim, and rebuke. To succeed, to write, to have been included means men have had to take some pretty big steps in dady's wonky shoes. They've had to accept and reject pieces of themselves, turn the tables, WANT to change and WANT to learn.
"Am I still a man?" (20).
Men Freeing Men is self-definition and understanding 'manhood' and changing it if they damn well please. It is paramount to the feminist cause, attempting to ameliorate the gendered inequality of sexual- and self-expression. I'm ecstatic to have discovered this insanely informative compilation from a point of view I desperately needed to consider (and now fully appreciate and respect).
"I doubt that I'll ever totally get rid of my double standards or occasional jealousies. I do think I can learn to keep such feelings from crippling my relationships, and instead use them as an index to what I'm feeling" (43).
This book is about men's double standard, their struggles, the lifelong fight with ones penis size, prostitution as male humiliation, relationships, isolation. It's witty, it's serious, it's downright empowering, yes, even for a reader of the female persuasion.
"I've come to the conclusion that I have a right to my feelings. I didn't consider learning about my feelings 'liberation.' I see it as a reconciliation with my humanity, which my forbears must have bartered long ago for 'manhood'" (21).
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Lickin' the ole pencil tip
Grassroots efforts are where it's at. I've been drafting up petition letters for people to sign throughout the month of April (Sexual Assault Awareness Month). In the meantime, I'd like you to strongly consider writing your senators to pass the International Violence Against Women Act in the 112th congress. The bill was introduced last year but was passed over. Please let your representatives know this issue is in dire need of attention.
The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) is the first comprehensive piece of legislation in the United States aimed at ending violence against women and girls around the world. It would improve our government’s response when women are victims of sex trafficking and rape during war and would provide aid to women’s groups on the ground working to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence. It would focus resources on prevention and ensure that dollars are used in the most effective ways possible. In some countries, it truly could mean the difference between life and death for a woman or girl.
Monday, March 21, 2011
I implore you to read this Victorian Era feminist piece.
Written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in 1847:
'Blame not thyself too much,' I said, 'nor blame
Too much the sons of men and barbarous laws;
These were the rough ways of the world till now.
Henceforth thou hast a helper, me, that know
The woman's cause is man's: they rise or sink
Together, dwarfed or godlike, bond or free:
For she that out of Lethe scales with man
The shining steps of Nature, shares with man
His nights, his days, moves with him to one goal,
Stays all the fair young planet in her hands--
If she be small, slight-natured, miserable,
How shall men grow? but work no more alone!
Our place is much: as far as in us lies
We two will serve them both in aiding her--
Will clear away the parasitic forms
That seem to keep her up but drag her down--
Will leave her space to burgeon out of all
Within her--let her make herself her own
To give or keep, to live and learn and be
All that not harms distinctive womanhood.
For woman is not undevelopt man,
But diverse: could we make her as the man,
Sweet Love were slain: his dearest bond is this,
Not like to like, but like in difference.
Yet in the long years liker must they grow;
The man be more of woman, she of man;
He gain in sweetness and in moral height,
Nor lose the wrestling thews that throw the world;
She mental breadth, nor fail in childward care,
Nor lose the childlike in the larger mind;
Till at the last she set herself to man,
Like perfect music unto noble words;
And so these twain, upon the skirts of Time,
Sit side by side, full-summed in all their powers,
Dispensing harvest, sowing the To-be,
Self-reverent each and reverencing each,
Distinct in individualities,
But like each other even as those who love.
Then comes the statelier Eden back to men:
Then reign the world's great bridals, chaste and calm:
Then springs the crowning race of humankind.
May these things be!'
Sighing she spoke 'I fear
They will not.'
'Dear, but let us type them now
In our own lives, and this proud watchword rest
Of equal; seeing either sex alone
Is half itself, and in true marriage lies
Nor equal, nor unequal: each fulfils
Defect in each, and always thought in thought,
Purpose in purpose, will in will, they grow,
The single pure and perfect animal,
The two-celled heart beating, with one full stroke,
Life.'
And again sighing she spoke: 'A dream
That once was mind! what woman taught you this?'
Excerpted from here. Discovered originally in my British Literature textbook. It warms my heart that such sensibilities were awake at this time. I am further pleased that the author and beholder of such ideas was male.
'Blame not thyself too much,' I said, 'nor blame
Too much the sons of men and barbarous laws;
These were the rough ways of the world till now.
Henceforth thou hast a helper, me, that know
The woman's cause is man's: they rise or sink
Together, dwarfed or godlike, bond or free:
For she that out of Lethe scales with man
The shining steps of Nature, shares with man
His nights, his days, moves with him to one goal,
Stays all the fair young planet in her hands--
If she be small, slight-natured, miserable,
How shall men grow? but work no more alone!
Our place is much: as far as in us lies
We two will serve them both in aiding her--
Will clear away the parasitic forms
That seem to keep her up but drag her down--
Will leave her space to burgeon out of all
Within her--let her make herself her own
To give or keep, to live and learn and be
All that not harms distinctive womanhood.
For woman is not undevelopt man,
But diverse: could we make her as the man,
Sweet Love were slain: his dearest bond is this,
Not like to like, but like in difference.
Yet in the long years liker must they grow;
The man be more of woman, she of man;
He gain in sweetness and in moral height,
Nor lose the wrestling thews that throw the world;
She mental breadth, nor fail in childward care,
Nor lose the childlike in the larger mind;
Till at the last she set herself to man,
Like perfect music unto noble words;
And so these twain, upon the skirts of Time,
Sit side by side, full-summed in all their powers,
Dispensing harvest, sowing the To-be,
Self-reverent each and reverencing each,
Distinct in individualities,
But like each other even as those who love.
Then comes the statelier Eden back to men:
Then reign the world's great bridals, chaste and calm:
Then springs the crowning race of humankind.
May these things be!'
Sighing she spoke 'I fear
They will not.'
'Dear, but let us type them now
In our own lives, and this proud watchword rest
Of equal; seeing either sex alone
Is half itself, and in true marriage lies
Nor equal, nor unequal: each fulfils
Defect in each, and always thought in thought,
Purpose in purpose, will in will, they grow,
The single pure and perfect animal,
The two-celled heart beating, with one full stroke,
Life.'
And again sighing she spoke: 'A dream
That once was mind! what woman taught you this?'
Excerpted from here. Discovered originally in my British Literature textbook. It warms my heart that such sensibilities were awake at this time. I am further pleased that the author and beholder of such ideas was male.
An apology/retraction
In response to the post about "Lady Ada" on the cover of WIRED: I did not mean, by any stretch of the imagination, to come off as whining or unsatisfactory. I am, of course, thrilled by her presence on the cover (of which, as I have been corrected, is not the first female presence on WIRED's cover, but is the first appearance of a female engineer on its cover). I am pleased by what she has accomplished (to see her work and what she stands for, click here). On the main entry page of her website, there can be found close relations to the symbols of masculinity and femininity which I found interesting and inspiring. I am extremely excited that she was given the opportunity to be a leader of (hopefully) more women to follow on WIRED's cover.
My observation and previous post was a rant of frustration about the pose and the lack of recognition she was given on the cover. I assume with great certainty that she was given at least a full page spread, if not an entire article, within the pages of the magazine, but I think she deserved more recognition on the cover itself (see again the note about her name in teensy print). As for the pose, it contradicts what I now know to be the reason for celebration of her grace on the cover: the reason being, she is the first female on the cover of WIRED to be presented as engineer first, woman second. (A sentiment I highly agree with because it promotes [and, is, in and of itself,] equality.) However, the pose was a regression back to the days when women were first entering the workforce and still had to be pictured as masculine to 'belong there.' During that time, I believe Rosie was an incredible figure; I'm moved by what she did for women's inclusion (if only that hadn't been taken away when male soldiers returned). I do, believe, however, that we should be past what she stands for (a proclamation of 'I should belong' rather than 'I do belong'). I apologize that that distinction was made unclear and I wish it did not conflict with what the WIRED cover is attempting to portray.
My regards to reader, M.a.U., for delivering speedy fact-checking information and rebuttal!
My observation and previous post was a rant of frustration about the pose and the lack of recognition she was given on the cover. I assume with great certainty that she was given at least a full page spread, if not an entire article, within the pages of the magazine, but I think she deserved more recognition on the cover itself (see again the note about her name in teensy print). As for the pose, it contradicts what I now know to be the reason for celebration of her grace on the cover: the reason being, she is the first female on the cover of WIRED to be presented as engineer first, woman second. (A sentiment I highly agree with because it promotes [and, is, in and of itself,] equality.) However, the pose was a regression back to the days when women were first entering the workforce and still had to be pictured as masculine to 'belong there.' During that time, I believe Rosie was an incredible figure; I'm moved by what she did for women's inclusion (if only that hadn't been taken away when male soldiers returned). I do, believe, however, that we should be past what she stands for (a proclamation of 'I should belong' rather than 'I do belong'). I apologize that that distinction was made unclear and I wish it did not conflict with what the WIRED cover is attempting to portray.
My regards to reader, M.a.U., for delivering speedy fact-checking information and rebuttal!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Addendum to previous post
The song has been remixed and here are some key lyrics of the featured rappers:
"once you let me in your world
It'll never be the same again"
"I'ma disrobe you then I'ma probe you,
See I abducted you so I tell you what to do, I tell you what to do, what to do, what to do"
"once you let me in your world
It'll never be the same again"
"I'ma disrobe you then I'ma probe you,
See I abducted you so I tell you what to do, I tell you what to do, what to do, what to do"
Friday, March 18, 2011
This is music?
E.T. by Katy Perry.
Lyrics below. I understand that it's pop music; I can't expect gender equality in songs, but I'm not giving up. This song disturbs me. It has the air of "Love the Way You Lie" ('I like
The way it hurts'): it touches on abusive relationships but seems to focus more on the way women justify their getting hurt rather than how to get out. This song in particular seems to condone being used, but blurs the boundaries of it being okay by morphing the lyrics with proclamations of there being an extraterrestrial race who want to screw human women.
"They say be afraid
you're not like the others...they dont understand [you]"
"Kiss me, k-k-kiss me
infect me with your love, and fill me with your poison
take me, t-t-take me
wanna be your victim, ready for abduction...for you [I] risk it all"
So you want to be kidnapped, held against your will, and corrupted, but you know he's good for you even though others say he's not? Mixed messages.
Lyrics below. I understand that it's pop music; I can't expect gender equality in songs, but I'm not giving up. This song disturbs me. It has the air of "Love the Way You Lie" ('I like
The way it hurts'): it touches on abusive relationships but seems to focus more on the way women justify their getting hurt rather than how to get out. This song in particular seems to condone being used, but blurs the boundaries of it being okay by morphing the lyrics with proclamations of there being an extraterrestrial race who want to screw human women.
"They say be afraid
you're not like the others...they dont understand [you]"
"Kiss me, k-k-kiss me
infect me with your love, and fill me with your poison
take me, t-t-take me
wanna be your victim, ready for abduction...for you [I] risk it all"
So you want to be kidnapped, held against your will, and corrupted, but you know he's good for you even though others say he's not? Mixed messages.
First ever woman to grace the cover of WIRED
I hate to be a downer, but this is not enough. "It feels so flat that that’s the only way we can represent women working in a man’s field." She's portrayed almost cartoonishly, mockingly, in the style of a female entering 'a man's world,' as Rosie was, instead of posing like she already belonged there. Also, notice that the cover mentions NOTHING about the female artist/engineer (not even a measly tagline) besides her name, which is in the smallest print. That said, at least there's progress in the fact that she's not portrayed as two separate body parts (I'll let you guess which ones).
Food for thought
Article about Western Ideas of Beauty. (Not particularly feministically-spinned -yes, I realize that's not actually a word - but beautiful and thought-provoking all the same.)
An excerpt: "There have been certain identifiable refrains in Western writing on beauty. One is that it must be apprehended disinterestedly: that you have to step back from the pleasure part, or rather sternly set aside the liking for pleasure we usually call desire. Beauty should somehow be its own reward rather than something which stimulates or satisfies an appetite for something else. [...] Love comes in at the eye...and so should beauty, engaging nothing of us below the neck, let alone the waist."
An excerpt: "There have been certain identifiable refrains in Western writing on beauty. One is that it must be apprehended disinterestedly: that you have to step back from the pleasure part, or rather sternly set aside the liking for pleasure we usually call desire. Beauty should somehow be its own reward rather than something which stimulates or satisfies an appetite for something else. [...] Love comes in at the eye...and so should beauty, engaging nothing of us below the neck, let alone the waist."
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Previous source revealed.
For the electronic article from the Guardian discussed six posts ago, click me.
Everyone should read this article.
'The Care Crisis in the Philippines: Children and Transnational Families in the New Global Economy' by Rhacel Salazar Parreñas
It lists the gendered disparities among children of migrant mothers and discusses the controlling issues behind what can only be termed 'victim blaming.'
Read the PDF here.
It lists the gendered disparities among children of migrant mothers and discusses the controlling issues behind what can only be termed 'victim blaming.'
Read the PDF here.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Iowa Woman Jailed for Thinking About Abortion
An excerpt of the article:
"Ms. Taylor became light-headed and fell down a flight of stairs in her home. Paramedics rushed to the scene and ultimately declared her healthy. However, since she was pregnant with her third child at the time, Taylor thought it would be best to be seen at the local ER to make sure her fetus was unharmed.
That's when things got really bad and really crazy. Alone, distraught, and frightened, Taylor confided in the nurse treating her that she hadn't always been sure she'd wanted this baby, now that she was single and unemployed. She'd considered both adoption and abortion before ultimately deciding to keep the child. The nurse then summoned a doctor, who questioned her further about her thoughts on ending the pregnancy. Next thing Taylor knew, she was being arrested for attempted feticide. Apparently the nurse and doctor thought that Taylor threw herself down the stairs on purpose."
(Emphasis theirs). I have no problem with the EMT staff taking the woman to the hospital to make sure the fetus was unharmed. Judging that Ms. Taylor was okay for questioning and declared healthy before being taken to the hospital, I would like to know whether she was asked if she would like to go to the hospital for such a check up or if she was just taken there.
Full criticism here.
"Ms. Taylor became light-headed and fell down a flight of stairs in her home. Paramedics rushed to the scene and ultimately declared her healthy. However, since she was pregnant with her third child at the time, Taylor thought it would be best to be seen at the local ER to make sure her fetus was unharmed.
That's when things got really bad and really crazy. Alone, distraught, and frightened, Taylor confided in the nurse treating her that she hadn't always been sure she'd wanted this baby, now that she was single and unemployed. She'd considered both adoption and abortion before ultimately deciding to keep the child. The nurse then summoned a doctor, who questioned her further about her thoughts on ending the pregnancy. Next thing Taylor knew, she was being arrested for attempted feticide. Apparently the nurse and doctor thought that Taylor threw herself down the stairs on purpose."
(Emphasis theirs). I have no problem with the EMT staff taking the woman to the hospital to make sure the fetus was unharmed. Judging that Ms. Taylor was okay for questioning and declared healthy before being taken to the hospital, I would like to know whether she was asked if she would like to go to the hospital for such a check up or if she was just taken there.
Full criticism here.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Replace "it" with "objectification"?
The lyrics of a recently popular British pop song:
"I can do it like a brother - do it like a dude
Grab my crotch wear my hat low like you
Do it like a brother - do it like a dude
Grab my crotch, wear my hat low like you
Bang bang Hey, pour me a beer
No pretty drinks, I'm a guy out here
Rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin' money like a pimp
My bitches on my dick like this
Dirty dirty dirty dirty dirty dirty sucker
You think I can't get her like you, you motherfucker"
In other words, you can exercise undue privilege and use it to your advantage in order to 'score'. Excellent way to stick it to the ladies.
"I can do it like a brother - do it like a dude
Grab my crotch wear my hat low like you
Do it like a brother - do it like a dude
Grab my crotch, wear my hat low like you
Bang bang Hey, pour me a beer
No pretty drinks, I'm a guy out here
Rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin' money like a pimp
My bitches on my dick like this
Dirty dirty dirty dirty dirty dirty sucker
You think I can't get her like you, you motherfucker"
In other words, you can exercise undue privilege and use it to your advantage in order to 'score'. Excellent way to stick it to the ladies.
What my trip forced me to miss posting about:
March 8th was the 100th annual International Women’s Day!
"International Womens’ Day was the brainchild of a woman by the name of Clara Zetkin in 1910. Zetkin was leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the German Social Democratic Party and at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, she proposed establishing day of celebration and activism, to be held on the same day every year, around the world. Thanks to Zetkin, in 1911, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. According to IWD history, 'more than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.'"
Source.
Whilst riding the Eurostar to Paris, I caught a glimpse of a man reading a British newspaper insert (started with a 'G') about 100 Influential Women of our time. Lady Gaga, Oprah, and other famous (and not-well-known-but-should-be!) names filled the pages. I wish now I'd had the courage to ask the man if I could keep his paper. I'll be uploading some overseas feministy photos from my trip within the next few days.
"International Womens’ Day was the brainchild of a woman by the name of Clara Zetkin in 1910. Zetkin was leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the German Social Democratic Party and at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, she proposed establishing day of celebration and activism, to be held on the same day every year, around the world. Thanks to Zetkin, in 1911, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. According to IWD history, 'more than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.'"
Source.
Whilst riding the Eurostar to Paris, I caught a glimpse of a man reading a British newspaper insert (started with a 'G') about 100 Influential Women of our time. Lady Gaga, Oprah, and other famous (and not-well-known-but-should-be!) names filled the pages. I wish now I'd had the courage to ask the man if I could keep his paper. I'll be uploading some overseas feministy photos from my trip within the next few days.
A mini anniversary
Roughly two years ago, I wrote a standalone piece regarding my 'Click' -- a moment I remember fully identifying as a feminist. I copy it here as a reminder of my past and how it lead to my future. I copy it here as a mini-womanifesto. I copy it here to call out to girls who have been in such a situation. I copy it here to give hope and a little reality check.
You'll either find what I have to say depressing, cheesy, stupid, or smart. Whatever the case, just don't pity me.
rejection, redemption, submission, empowerment
You'll either find what I have to say depressing, cheesy, stupid, or smart. Whatever the case, just don't pity me.
Tonight I looked in the mirror. Simple enough statement. But recall the times you've done such a routine and questioned your quirks.
Body dysphoria. Happens to the best of us. But should it?
Tonight I took things into my own hands. I refused to sit back and have society label me for things I can't help, for things that don't matter, for things that aren't bad.
I stripped down, took out a ballpoint pen and went to work. First, I wrote the things people call me, the ways I'm made fun of, the parts that aren't "normal".
But I took another next step.
I wrote about the things I'm proud of, the things I love, the things no one else seems to see. I didn't cover my body with Xs and Os, lines or dashes, like a jaded schoolgirl performing fake cosmetic surgery.
I covered my body in words.
Then I showered, scrubbed away the animosity, the tallies, the trademarks. I think it's a little bit ironic that the one spot I missed was my final proclamation: "I am perfect." I haven't washed it away, and don't intend to. The ink will remain until it is absorbed, and, with it, the declaration itself.
Maybe you wouldn't go to such extremes, but it's interesting that I had to do so to fully realize that I'm just like anyone else, that my body's just a shell. My personality fills it, what makes me who I am. And, if I may say so, I think I'm pretty kick-ass.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Retraction
Because I am not able to find the source for the fact posted previously regarding income changes for women who undergo sex change operations, I have deleted the post.
Continue, dear readers, to catch me when I forget to cite sources or if a source is found to be incorrect in a followup. Blogging arguments should be accurate!
Continue, dear readers, to catch me when I forget to cite sources or if a source is found to be incorrect in a followup. Blogging arguments should be accurate!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Just so you know...
Men who undergo sex-change operations make an average of 32% less in income after the surgery.
Try telling me again that feminism is dead.
Try telling me again that feminism is dead.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Gender Disparities In Schooling, Business
Thanks to Dr. Kavadlo for sending this article my way.
An excerpt: "In a more ambitious experiment organized with the university's math department, the psychologists evaluated how undergraduates performed when they had male or female math professors.
They measured, for instance, how often each student responded to questions posed by professors to the classroom as a whole. At the start of the semester, 11 percent of the female students attempted to answer questions posed to the entire class when the professor was male, and 7 percent of the female students attempted to answer questions posed to the entire class when the professor was female. By the end of the semester, the number of female students who attempted to answer questions posed by a male professor had not changed significantly: Only 7 percent of the women tried to answer such questions. But when classes were taught by a woman, the percentage of female students who attempted to answer questions by the semester's end rose to 46.
The researchers also measured how often students approached professors for help after class. Around 12 percent of the female students approached both male and female professors for help at the start of the semester. The number of female students approaching female professors was 14 percent at the end of the semester. But the number of female students asking for help from a male professor dropped to zero."
Is this choice subconscious? Does our media relay the idea that male teachers are intimidating? I think there's some truth to the latter. However, through crime dramas, I think the paradigm of the all-encompassing white male and his power is knocked down a few notches: girls are subject to watch male teachers engaging in pedophilia. It's interesting how one of the few areas in which men are presented as being out-of-control or not using their power wisely could end up being one of the big reasons girls are subconsciously 'failing' in school or 'not living up to their potential.'
And as far as the two girls mentioned in the beginning of the article (high school students who are developing new cancer treatments and solar cars), this is the first I'd heard of them. They give me immense hope. But I'm extremely discouraged by the aforementioned fact: this is the first I'd heard of them. Usually, kid prodigies who are broadcast are male and doing something math or sciencey. Either that, or the girls shown are developing iPhone apps. That's about as much 'newsworthy' leverage as we're given. Similarly, science shows on television are marketed toward men and boys. Mythbusters, for example, is one of my favorite TV shows, but it doesn't take long to realize there's only one woman on staff (at least in front of the camera, doing the experiments). And she's hyped a lot for her sex appeal (beauty and brains! - like this is something foreign). I am slightly placated by the fact that said woman (Kari Byron) is developing a television show of which the purpose is to help excite girls about science (or so she's been quoted).
An excerpt: "In a more ambitious experiment organized with the university's math department, the psychologists evaluated how undergraduates performed when they had male or female math professors.
They measured, for instance, how often each student responded to questions posed by professors to the classroom as a whole. At the start of the semester, 11 percent of the female students attempted to answer questions posed to the entire class when the professor was male, and 7 percent of the female students attempted to answer questions posed to the entire class when the professor was female. By the end of the semester, the number of female students who attempted to answer questions posed by a male professor had not changed significantly: Only 7 percent of the women tried to answer such questions. But when classes were taught by a woman, the percentage of female students who attempted to answer questions by the semester's end rose to 46.
The researchers also measured how often students approached professors for help after class. Around 12 percent of the female students approached both male and female professors for help at the start of the semester. The number of female students approaching female professors was 14 percent at the end of the semester. But the number of female students asking for help from a male professor dropped to zero."
Is this choice subconscious? Does our media relay the idea that male teachers are intimidating? I think there's some truth to the latter. However, through crime dramas, I think the paradigm of the all-encompassing white male and his power is knocked down a few notches: girls are subject to watch male teachers engaging in pedophilia. It's interesting how one of the few areas in which men are presented as being out-of-control or not using their power wisely could end up being one of the big reasons girls are subconsciously 'failing' in school or 'not living up to their potential.'
And as far as the two girls mentioned in the beginning of the article (high school students who are developing new cancer treatments and solar cars), this is the first I'd heard of them. They give me immense hope. But I'm extremely discouraged by the aforementioned fact: this is the first I'd heard of them. Usually, kid prodigies who are broadcast are male and doing something math or sciencey. Either that, or the girls shown are developing iPhone apps. That's about as much 'newsworthy' leverage as we're given. Similarly, science shows on television are marketed toward men and boys. Mythbusters, for example, is one of my favorite TV shows, but it doesn't take long to realize there's only one woman on staff (at least in front of the camera, doing the experiments). And she's hyped a lot for her sex appeal (beauty and brains! - like this is something foreign). I am slightly placated by the fact that said woman (Kari Byron) is developing a television show of which the purpose is to help excite girls about science (or so she's been quoted).
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